Shloka 103
धृतराष्ट्रस्य क्रतु-प्रवर्तनम् तथा पाण्डवानां निमन्त्रण-प्रतिवचनम्
Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Sacrifice Commences and the Pandavas’ Reply to the Invitation
प्राद्रवंस्ते दिश: सर्वे धार्तराष्ट्रस्य पश्यत: । गन्धर्वोको अस्त्र-शस्त्र लिये तीव्र वेगसे अपनी ओर आते देख वे सभी कौरव सैनिक दुर्योधनके देखते-देखते चारों ओर भागने लगे
prādravan te diśaḥ sarve dhārtarāṣṭrasya paśyataḥ | gandharvoko 'stra-śastra-liye tīvravegase 'panī ora āte dekh te ve sarve kaurava-sainikā duryodhanake dekhte-dekhte cāroṃ ora bhāgane lage |
Vaiśaṃpāyana said: As Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s son looked on, they all fled in every direction. Seeing the Gandharva host rushing toward them with fierce speed, armed with weapons and missiles, the Kaurava soldiers—before Duryodhana’s very eyes—broke ranks and ran away on all sides. The scene underscores how pride and aggression, when unsupported by inner discipline and righteous conduct, collapse into panic at the first true shock of danger.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Outer power and boastful confidence are unstable without self-control and dharmic grounding; when confronted by real danger, arrogance can quickly turn into disorder and fear, revealing the weakness of leadership built on pride rather than virtue.
A Gandharva force charges in at great speed, armed with missiles and weapons. The Kaurava troops, with Duryodhana watching, lose courage and scatter in all directions, signaling a sudden collapse of their formation and morale.